Tebow’s Broncos stun Steelers

PITTSBURGH PUNISHED:Denver quarterback Tim Tebow set the stage for the win with a second-quarter blitz that ravaged the NFL’s top-ranked defense for 20 points

Reuters, TORONTO

Demaryius Thomas of the Denver Broncos, center, makes a pass reception and fights off Ike Taylor of the Pittsburgh Steelers, right, to go 80 yards for the game-winning touchdown in overtime in their NFL playoff game in Denver, Colorado, on Sunday.

Photo: AFP

The Denver Broncos stunned the Pittsburgh Steelers with an 80-yard touchdown strike from Tim Tebow on the first play of overtime for a 29-23 win on Sunday to advance to the second round of the NFL playoffs.

Tebow, whose shortcomings as a passer have been well documented, connected with Demaryius Thomas on the first play from a scrimmage after the overtime kickoff to floor defending AFC champions the Steelers and bring the Mile High crowd to its feet celebrating the team’s first playoff win since 2005.

“I don’t think it’s the first time our offense has clicked ... but I thought the timing was great. We had struggled over the last couple weeks and a lot of that progress was because of our quarterback,” Denver coach John Fox said. “A lot was said, a lot was written and there’s been a lot of critique on him, but I thought he stepped up in a huge way tonight and I think he was a big part of us winning the game.”

The Broncos, who backed into the post-season on a three-game losing skid, now hit the road full of confidence, ready to face Tom Brady and the New England Patriots on Saturday.

It was more Mile High magic from Tebow, who became a fan favorite by pulling out late wins after getting the starting role during the season, but he set the stage for the victory much earlier with a second-quarter blitz that ravaged the NFL’s top-ranked defense for 20 points.

Tebow’s numbers would hardly shine alongside even average outings by Brady, but his 10 completions on 21 attempts for 316 yards and two touchdowns were enough to earn Denver their first playoff win in seven years.

The southpaw quarterback, who also ran in for a touchdown, may also have found a big-play target in Thomas, who hauled in four passes for 204 yards, including the game-winning catch that resulted in the quickest end to an NFL overtime at 11 seconds.

“We just tried to step up, we knew it was win or go home, and this team wanted to fight and play another game,” Tebow said. “It was a great call, it was something we had ran earlier in the game. When I saw him score, I was running pretty fast trying to catch him, then I just jumped into the stands. First time I’ve done that.”

Down 6-0 after one quarter, Tebow surprised the Steelers by going to the air and connecting on two long passes, a 51-yarder to Thomas followed by a 30-yard touchdown strike to Eddie Royal.

The touchdown was Denver’s first in 22 drives and the touchdown pass was the first given up by the Steelers in six games.

On the next possession, Tebow went right back to the air, hooking up with Thomas on a 58-yard pass. He then finished off the drive in a more familiar fashion, keeping the ball himself and charging over from the eight for a 14-6 lead.

The Denver defense also got in on the fun by intercepting Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who was hampered by an ankle injury, and giving Tebow the ball on the Pittsburgh 18 to set up a Matt Prater field goal.

Prater would add another 28-yard field goal to cap a sizzling second quarter that sent the hosts into the half to a standing ovation with a 20-6 lead.

Roethlisberger, slowed by a high ankle sprain that forced him to wear a special oversized shoe, took charge after the break, engineering an 88-yard drive capped off with speedy Mike Wallace racing around the end for a one-yard score to cut the Denver lead to seven.